SQUAMOUS SQUAMOUS

CELL CELL

CARCINOMACARCINOMA

BY DR. ASHFAQ BY DR. ASHFAQ

AFRIDIAFRIDI

Wha

t is i

t?W

hat i

s it?

Squamous cell carcinoma

Squamous cell carcinoma

is an extremely common

is an extremely common

form of skin cancer which

form of skin cancer which

is usually noncancerous,

is usually noncancerous,

especially if caught early.

especially if caught early.

In almost 97% of cases,

In almost 97% of cases, the cancer can be

the cancer can be excisedexcised and the patient

and the patient

will fully recover. In other

will fully recover. In other

instances, squamous cell

instances, squamous cell

carcinoma has the

carcinoma has the potential to potential to metastasizemetastasize, , spreading to other portions

spreading to other portions

of the body and creating

of the body and creating

serious health problems.

serious health problems.

Cont

i…..

Cont

i…..

It is the second most

It is the second most frequent malignant skin

frequent malignant skin tumor after basal cell

tumor after basal cell carcinoma.carcinoma.Most common type of

Most common type of cancer in the Caucasian

cancer in the Caucasian populationpopulation Skin cancers have about

Skin cancers have about 600,000 cases per year.

600,000 cases per year. Of these, 100,000 to

Of these, 100,000 to 150,000 are squamous

150,000 are squamous cell carcinomas.

cell carcinomas.

Most

like

ly to

get

Most

like

ly to

get

it:it:

Fair skin white men, usually

Fair skin white men, usually

over age 60. over age 60. Blonde or red hair; blue or

Blonde or red hair; blue or

green eyes. green eyes. History of indoor

History of indoor tanning                                  

tanning                                  

                                            

                                            

Diagnosed with Diagnosed with actinic

actinic

keratoseskeratoses (AKs).

(AKs). Family history of skin cancer.

Family history of skin cancer.

Weakened immune system

Weakened immune system

((immunosuppression

immunosuppression). ).

Received radiation therapy.

Received radiation therapy.

History of exposure to coal

History of exposure to coal

tar products or arsenic.

tar products or arsenic.

How

you

get i

t:Ho

w yo

u ge

t it:

The incidence of skin

The incidence of skin cancers is rising every year,

cancers is rising every year,

likely due to increased sun

likely due to increased sun

exposure. Most squamous

exposure. Most squamous

cell carcinomas result from

cell carcinomas result from

prolonged exposure to

prolonged exposure to ultraviolet (UV)

ultraviolet (UV) radiationradiation, either from

, either from

sunlight or from tanning

sunlight or from tanning

beds or lamps. Avoiding UV

beds or lamps. Avoiding UV

light as much as possible is

light as much as possible is

the best protection.

the best protection. Sunscreen is an important

Sunscreen is an important

part of a sun-safety program,

part of a sun-safety program,

but by itself doesn't

but by itself doesn't completely prevent

completely prevent squamous cell carcinoma or

squamous cell carcinoma or

other types of skin cancer.

other types of skin cancer.

Sym

ptom

sSy

mpt

oms

Skin cancer first appears

Skin cancer first appears

as a growth and it

as a growth and it sometimes takes the

sometimes takes the form of a sore or pimple

form of a sore or pimple

that does not heal. The

that does not heal. The sore may bleed or ooze

sore may bleed or ooze fluid, crust or scab over,

fluid, crust or scab over,

and then ooze or bleed

and then ooze or bleed again. Cancer can occur

again. Cancer can occur

on almost any area of

on almost any area of the skin, but is most

the skin, but is most common on areas often

common on areas often exposed to the sun. Skin

exposed to the sun. Skin

cancer usually is

cancer usually is painless.painless.

Sym

ptom

sSy

mpt

oms The most common

The most common symptoms are:symptoms are:

1. A new growth on

1. A new growth on the skin.the skin. 2. A change in an

2. A change in an existing skin growth.

existing skin growth. 3. A sore that does not

3. A sore that does not heal.heal.

Diag

nosis

Diag

nosis

In addition to taking a

In addition to taking a complete medical

complete medical history and checking the

history and checking the affected area of skin,

affected area of skin, your doctor may remove

your doctor may remove a small skin sample

a small skin sample (biopsy) for examination

(biopsy) for examination under a microscope.

under a microscope. Often, the biopsy is sent

Often, the biopsy is sent to a pathologist who has

to a pathologist who has special expertise in

special expertise in diagnosing skin samples.

diagnosing skin samples.

Diag

nosis

Diag

nosis

A suspected squamous

A suspected squamous cell carcinoma is often

cell carcinoma is often biopsied by shaving off

biopsied by shaving off the top layers of skin

the top layers of skin with a surgical blade.

with a surgical blade. Tumors that have

Tumors that have spread deeper into the

spread deeper into the skin may be partially or

skin may be partially or completely removed

completely removed (incisional or excisional

(incisional or excisional biopsy).biopsy).

Treat

men

tsTre

atm

ents

Freezing: Freezing: This involves

This involves

removing cancerous

removing cancerous

cells by freezing them

cells by freezing them

with liquid nitrogen.

with liquid nitrogen. Simple excision:

Simple excision: In In

this procedure, your

this procedure, your

doctor cuts out the

doctor cuts out the cancerous tissue and a

cancerous tissue and a

surrounding margin of

surrounding margin of

healthy skin.

healthy skin.

Treat

men

tsTre

atm

ents

Laser therapy:

Laser therapy: An An intense beam of light

intense beam of light vaporizes growths,

vaporizes growths, usually with little

usually with little damage to surrounding

damage to surrounding tissue and with a

tissue and with a reduced risk of reduced risk of bleeding, swelling and

bleeding, swelling and scarring. Lasers are

scarring. Lasers are often used to treat

often used to treat superficial carcinomas

superficial carcinomas on the lips. on the lips.

Treat

men

tsTre

atm

ents

Mohs surgery:

Mohs surgery: This is This is

often considered the

often considered the most effective treatment

most effective treatment for squamous cell

for squamous cell carcinomas. During the

carcinomas. During the procedure, your doctor

procedure, your doctor removes the tumor layer

removes the tumor layer by layer. This allows the

by layer. This allows the entire growth to be

entire growth to be removed without taking

removed without taking an excessive amount of

an excessive amount of surrounding healthy skin.

surrounding healthy skin.

Treat

men

tsTre

atm

ents

Radiation therapy:

Radiation therapy: This may be an option

This may be an option for treating large

for treating large cancers on the cancers on the eyelids, lips and ears

eyelids, lips and ears — areas that are

— areas that are difficult to treat difficult to treat surgically — or for

surgically — or for tumors too deep to cut

tumors too deep to cut out. out.

Treat

men

tsTre

atm

ents

Chemotherapy:

Chemotherapy: For very For very

superficial cancers,

superficial cancers, creams or lotions

creams or lotions containing anti-cancer

containing anti-cancer agents may be applied

agents may be applied directly to your skin.

directly to your skin. Some of these Some of these medications can cause

medications can cause severe inflammation and

severe inflammation and

scarring. This can also

scarring. This can also come in the form of an IV

come in the form of an IV

which is inserted into the

which is inserted into the

body.body.

Medi

catio

nsMe

dica

tions

FluorouracilFluorouracil: : Indications: IV-

Indications: IV-

treatment of colon

treatment of colon cancer, breast cancer,

cancer, breast cancer,

gastric cancer, pancreatic

gastric cancer, pancreatic

carcinoma. carcinoma. Topical- management of

Topical- management of

carcinoma cancer

carcinoma cancerActions: Theraputic

Actions: Theraputic

Effects- death of rapidly

Effects- death of rapidly

replicating cells,

replicating cells, particularly malignant

particularly malignant

ones.ones.  

Prog

nosis

Prog

nosis

Although an original

Although an original squamous cell carcinoma

squamous cell carcinoma diagnosis comes with a

diagnosis comes with a 95% cure rate, the

95% cure rate, the disease is typically

disease is typically recurring if the tumors

recurring if the tumors spread to other locations

spread to other locations on the body, the

on the body, the prognosis is less

prognosis is less promising if the cancer

promising if the cancer spreads t the lymph

spreads t the lymph nodes or organs in the

nodes or organs in the body.body.

Prog

nosis

Prog

nosis

The prognosis for if the

The prognosis for if the cancer spreads to the

cancer spreads to the lymph nodes can be as

lymph nodes can be as high as 73% with proper

high as 73% with proper treatment. When in the

treatment. When in the lungs, it is not cureable.

lungs, it is not cureable. Prompt treatment of

Prompt treatment of suspicious skin lesions

suspicious skin lesions help to ensure early

help to ensure early diagnosis and affords

diagnosis and affords the best possible

the best possible prognosis.prognosis.

Vide

oVi

deo

http://http://www.5min.com/www.5min.com/Video/Understanding-

Video/Understanding-Squamous-Cell-Squamous-Cell-Carcinoma-29158691

Carcinoma-29158691